Kinesiology's Blazo Blazing Trails Internationally

Dr. Jordan Blazo, pictured with his furry friends, in the Department of Kinesiology recently presented at the annual meeting of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA) in Montreal, Quebec. Dr. Blazo presented two projects focused on understanding sibling relationships in sport and how they may change as children approach and go through adolescence. The first project presented data regarding the adaptive function of making sport-based comparisons with an older sibling for developing perceptions of competence in youth sport. This project also highlighted the importance of the relationship quality of sibling interactions (i.e., warm and compassionate, or hostile and conflictual). Specifically, siblings that reported making more comparisons, perceiving more warmth, and higher levels of conflict, related to higher perceptions of sport competence. 

Dr. Blazo's second presentation shared information from a recent study regarding sibling relationship qualities, role modeling, and engaging in shared activities. The findings again suggested the importance of sibling relationship qualities.Sibling warmth was positively associated with using an older sibling as a role model, and leading to more shared activities in sport. Sibling conflict was negatively related to these same outcomes. Across both projects, specific attention was paid to the age of the participants (8-13 years old), as prior research in physical activity, and family studies areas has suggested that the importance of family relationships begins to wane compared to the broader peer group. In both studies, the influence of age was not supported, suggesting that having a sport involved older sibling may continue to hold value for youth sport experiences in the presence of other relationships. 

 

Thanks to Dr. Blazo for this amazing work and great story to share with our COE family! We are fortunate to have you with us, Dr. Blazo. Congratulations on your International Success!

Words Their Way in the COE Today!

On Tuesday, June 21st from 9am to 3pm, 38 Lincoln Parish professional educators joined Dr. Carrice Cummins, Dr. Libby Manning, and Dr. Kim Kimbell-Lopez from the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Leadership in the College of Education at Louisiana Tech University for a Words Their Way Workshop in Woodard Hall in the new College of Education Literacy Center. Teachers came from each of the Lincoln Parish elementary schools, and many administrators joined as well. Central Office Elementary Lead, Sherry Boyd was also in attendance and has been a great advocate for the use of the tool in the schools she serves. Dr. Bryan McCoy, Department Chair for Curriculum, Instruction, and Leadership noted that this workshop was a "fantastic opportunity to engage with K-12 educational professionals to strengthen both the teacher education programs and K-12 classrooms." Words Their Way is a trademarked product through Pearson Learning Services. The system focuses on " word study for phonics, vocabulary, and spelling instruction," as noted on their website www.pearsonschool.com. The faculty enjoyed a full day of professional development activities and modeled instruction delivered by the University professors. "This voluntary workshop was hosted at no charge, and is an extension of the strong existing partnership between the Louisiana Tech University College of Education and the Lincoln Parish Schools," noted Dean Schillinger. In addition to the exciting event today, the trio of outstanding literacy educators will be hosting a regional conference in Shreveport/ Bossier at the Tech Center from June 28- June 30. This is the first annual conference of its kind and is titled Powerful Instruction: Developing Readers, Writers, and Thinkers. For more information about the upcoming conference, please visit the Eventbrite site at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/powerful-instruction-developing-readers-writers-and-thinkers-tickets-22048621019?aff=erelexpmlt . There is limited space available for those interested in registering.

COE Volunteers Help Out with the Annual Louisiana Peach Festival!

In just three short weeks, the Annual Louisiana Peach Festival will be taking place in our very own Ruston, LA! We are happy to report that as of Friday, June 3, the Louisiana Tech University College of Education was 4th place in the race for the most volunteers helping with the event! In addition to those from SciTEC helping host special events including the Kid's Fishing Tournament, the Family Tent, AROS in the Department of Psychology will actually be doing evaluations of the economic impact of the event on our community! There is still time to register and lend a hand with the volunteer effort. Events for which you can volunteer your time include pre-festival preparations; clean up; FREE Kid's Fishing Tournament; multiple art and craft shows, booths, and competitions; the annual Peach Hunt and Passport Challenge; Peach Cookery Contest; Baby Photo Contest; concerts; parades; 5K Walk/Run; Tennis Tournament; Peach Cobbler Eating Contest; Rodeo, Bass Tournament;  Antique Car Show; Pageants; Family Kids Tent;  BMX & Skateboard Show; and even a new Dinosaur exhibit! If you have any free time in the next three weeks, please check out the link below and select times and events of which you would like to be a part. The winning organization will receive a  recognition at the festival and a cookout for those who volunteered from the organization sponsored by Super 1....PLUS: You get free passes to the festival and a volunteer shirt!


https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1uzcVBJ1VcH76U1FZIIQ8RhXcSJ8ResPmG1xUXRJdiZo/viewform?c=0&w=1

http://www.louisianapeachfestival.org/

Summer STEM Opportunities through SciTEC in the COE

We have some exciting things planned! If you've not already laid out your plans for you and your kiddos this summer, there are a few spots still left in our summer camps being offered at SciTEC'S IDEA Place in the College of Education. We would love to have you and yours as our guests! Please see below, and let us (scitec@latech.edu / 3182572866) know if you have any questions regarding registration.
June 6-10 - Bricks4Kidz Superhero Academy
June 6-10 - Bricks4Kidz  Jurassic Brick Land
June 6-10- Bricks4Kidz Work Vehicles (PreK)
June 6-10- Bricks4Kidz Garden Girls (PreK)
June 13-17- Bricks4Kidz Island Adventures (PreK)
June 13-18- Bricks4Kidz Character Craze
June 13-18- Bricks4Kidz Galaxy Far Away
June 20-24- Bricks4Kidz Brick Critters
June 20-24- Bricks4Kidz B4K EV3 Robotics
June 24- SciTEC's IDEA Place FREE Peach Fest Fishing Tournament at Lincoln Parish Park
June 25- SciTEC's IDEA Place will be at Peach Festival at the Kid's Tent
June 27-July 1- Bricks4Kidz Worlds of Amusement
June 27-July 1- Bricks4Kidz Mining and Crafting
July 5-9- Bricks4Kidz Interesting Insects (PreK)
July 5-9 Bricks4Kids In the Jungle (PreK)
July 11-15- Engineering By Design
July 13- Bricks4Kidz Pre-K STEM Day
July 25-29 Red Stick Robotics VEX IQ
July 25-29 Red Stick Robotics Jedi Mind Tricks
Don't forget; you can always schedule a private planetarium show or IDEA Place tour for a birthday party, family visit, or just a day out on the town, too!

Children's Choices Awards

The Children's Choices Program is a joint project between the Children's Book Council and The International Literacy Association. There are only five Children's Choices selected sites in the U.S., and Louisiana Tech's College of Education is one of those partnerships! Dr. Amy Massey Vessel applied last year to serve as a host site and was selected to serve as a team leader on ILA's Children's Choices Committee. Lincoln Parish School district leaders, Lisa Mangum (District Reading Coach) and Sherry Boyd (Elementary Supervisor) were integral in supporting the establishment of the Children's choice program in our area schools and will continue to support this 3-year program. More than 2,500 students at Hillcrest Elementary, Ruston Elementary, Glen View Elementary, and Cypress Springs Elementary School submitted votes from August - January after having the opportunity to choose books to read and share their reviews. Those votes were compiled and submitted to the Children's Book Council to create the 2016 award winning reading lists that were published this week during Children's Book Week.

Teachers from across the country use Children's Choices, Teachers' Choices, and Parents' Choices recommended book lists to select new books for their classroom libraries. For the many hours the Lincoln Parish Schools dedicated to this project, their reward is an entire set of almost 1,000 books for their school libraries. Teachers had the opportunity to see these 2015 published books from the many national publishing companies, sometimes even weeks before they were available in local bookstores.

According to Children's Choices Team Leader, Dr. Amy Vessel, "Bringing the Children's Choices Program to Lincoln Parish was a dream come true! Some things cannot be captured with a photo or put into words, like the excitement of delivering new books to the hands of a child. We look forward to watching this partnership continue to reach additional schools in the next year." Vessel is currently collaborating with Dr. Bryan McCoy, Chair of the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Leadership, to establish a children's library in Woodard Hall for our teacher candidates and the community. The 2016 Children's Choices winners are currently on display in the Clinical Residency Research Center in Woodard Hall 214. The following link highlights the selections: http://www.cbcbooks.org/childrens-choices/ Thanks to Dr. Amy Massey Vessel for her hard work, the story submission, and the impact being made in our region through this program!

Kinesiology helps make Field Days Fun in Lincoln Parish Schools!

Attached are pictures from the LPECC Field Day held on Friday, April 29 for which 31 students from KINE 113 under the direction of Dr. Tammy Schilling and KINE 414 , under the direction of Ms. Lacey Deal, ran stations. There were approximately 230 preschoolers that participated and enjoyed the educational stations on Friday.

 

The Ruston Elementary Field Day will be held on the campus of Louisiana Tech on Friday, May 6. The Tech Leadership Council will host carnival-like stations in Lambright while students from KINE 113 under the direction of Dr. Tammy Schilling, KINE 256 under the direction of Dr. Jean Chen, and KINE 414 under the direction of Ms. Lacey Deal, will run Teambuilding and Olympic-themed stations on the rugby and football practice fields, respectively. Thanks to Dr. Tammy Schilling of Kinesiology for organizing the event and sharing this exciting story with our COE!

Louisiana Tech COE Children's Choices Program Celebrates Children's Book Week

Children's Book Week has been celebrated since 1919. The Clinical
Residency Research Center (CRRC) will provide a treat to anyone showing their love of literature daily during our week-long celebration next week, May 2nd-6th! Wear stripes on Monday or grab your favorite sporting hat on Tuesday! Most importantly, read a book to a child sharing your love for literature! (The CBW Calendar is attached to this email and posted throughout Woodard Hall.)

Please drop by the CRRC next week to explore the Children's Choices Book Submissions from 2015! We hope to have this book collection available fully circulating for all COE faculty, staff, and students by Fall 2016! The 2016 Children's Choice winners will be announced soon, and a copy of
all winners will be available for checkout! The Children's Book Council and the International Literacy Association co-sponsor the Children's Choices program, and Louisiana Tech is one of only 5 sites in the nation collaborating with school district children. We would like to thank Lincoln Parish Schools for collaborating in our 2015-2016 CC partnership.

For more information regarding Children's Book Week, please visit
http://www.bookweekonline.com/.